Story Highlights

It took Todd James less than one minute to knock over the final 30 pins for his historic 900 series at Bryan's Center in Laurel on March 18.

James normally doesn't take much time on the approach. Ball in hand, his delivery comes swiftly.

But when he saw the phone video of his remarkable finish to perfection, even James admitted it was faster than usual.

"I was really nervous, my legs were shaking," recalled James, 31, thinking back to the night his bowling legacy was solidified.

Only 23 others – all men – have ever completed the sport's "perfect three-game series" – 300, 300, 300. And, one of them, Glenn Allison, the first to shoot 900 in 1982, had his perfect series rejected by the then-American Bowling Congress (now USBC), citing non-complying lane conditions.

All of the other 900s have been passed by bowling's sanctioning body.

James, filling-in as a sub on the Tuesday Mixed League when he made history, is no stranger to needing three strikes in the 10th frame to finish a perfect game.

By his own count, James, who was weaned on the game in the junior program at Seaford Lanes, had already notched 30 perfect games in his career.

USBC records show that as recent as last November, at Bryan's Center, James added to his perfect game production.

James, accompanied by his two daughters, Chloe, 11, and Alyasa, 7, arrived at Bryan's in time for pre-league practice. But, practice didn't go so well.

"I just couldn't get myself lined-up right," said James, adding, "usually, it's not a problem but I really didn't find (a line) until right at the end of practice."

When they started keeping score, James couldn't miss, his "Train" 900 Global ball – a gift from his parents and the only ball in his arsenal – piling up the strikes.

Any problem game one?

"Well, the very last [ball] hit light and the 5-pin was the last to fall."

James remembers two things about the second game.

"I got a 'messenger' [pin to complete a strike] frame seven ... and I was like, 'Wow, I've got 600 after two.'"

James said he had two goals to start game three.

"The house record was 858 and I was alive in the [center] strike-pot."

By then, the 50-plus other bowlers at Bryan's were also aware of what James stunning performance.

Four strikes into game three, Chloe, well aware of what her father was doing, had a message for him.

"She told me 'Daddy, I think you're going to get [900]," said James.

James said he told her, "Well, [900] is really, really rare, not many people do it ... and, I remember her saying, 'You'll do it, I have faith in you.'"

The big break for James came in the ninth frame.

"I sent [the ball] a little wide and it came back and went right through the face [of the head-pin]," said James, "and the 4-6-7-10 just caved in."

With a cellphone capturing history, James can be heard bellowing "Get in there!" just as he lets the final ball go, walks off to his right, the pins crash, there's a slight, momentary pause, before the head-pin – another messenger –bounces from the left sidewall over to the right side and obliterates a 10-pin that tried to keep James from his moment with immortality.

State events

The Delaware State USBC Association is unveiling a new men's only tournament that will run concurrently with the association's fourth annual women's only event.

Pleasant Hill Lanes, in Newport, will host the twin tournaments over two weekends, April 26-27 and May 3-4.

Cheryl Walker, state association manager, reports that entries have been mailed to sanctioned members. Contact Walker at dsusbc@verizon.net for more details.

PBA at Doverama

Brunswick Doverama will host a PBA50 Regional Tournament, Friday-Sunday, June 20-22. Crystal Bentley, Doverama general manager, plans to promote a pro-am to get the event started on Friday.

At a PBA50 stop in Elmira, N.Y., last weekend, Mike Hastings (13) and Pete Bryan (28) earned checks as David Kneas, who captured the first PBA regional at Mid County Lanes, Middletown, in 2009, claimed the title.

Mid County hosts a regular PBA regional, Aug. 1-3, while Pete Bryan is expected to host a PBA50 event again in the fall at Bryan's Center.